Aya Rasheed

I enjoy reading, playing sports, lifting heavy weights, traveling and enhancing people's lives. I have personally experienced the benefits of marriage preparation with my husband. We also attended couples therapy after the wake up call of becoming new parents. Both experiences provided us with the tools to transition through newlywed and new parent life successfully.

Helping people see brighter perspectives and transition through life's trials is what I am most passionate about. I have a great deal of education, training and over 10 years of experience (see credentials and experience below). Even so, what my clients value most is my active listening, warm presence and easy going personality. Utilizing self-reflection and concrete direction, I help you create a vision for your goals, plan the steps to achieve them and promote a mindset to match. I will be there to make sure you are heard.

I provide evidence-based, culturally-responsive therapeutic interventions. My services can range from short-term problem solving, education and coaching, to more in-depth therapy. In addition, I have a focus in helping clients work through elements of identity including race/ethnicity and religion, including interracial/intercultural individuals and couples. I take the complexities of your life into account and provide customized therapy.

CREDENTIALS AND EXPERIENCE

I am licensed in the state of California as a Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT#117195). I have a Master’s degree in Marriage & Family Therapy from Alliant International University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. I am verified by Psychology Today,  a member of the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy (AAMFT), the California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (CAMFT), and the Sacramento Valley California Association of Marriage & Family Therapists (SVCAMFT).

By fate and opportunity in 2008, I dove into the mental health field leading adult groups focused on anger management, parenting and helping perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as youth groups for teens struggling with anger, truancy, and drugs. In 2010, I began work in a facility for children suffering with severe mental illness. In 2012, following my marriage, I moved to a new city and began working with adults and families facing major life transitions (e.g., coming back from the military to civilian life, overcoming addiction, and adapting to family life).  Simultaneously, I built and directed a wrap-around program for young adults who aged out of foster homes.

In 2014, I returned to my passion of working with individuals and couples in a private practice setting. I helped them see their self worth, build foundations for their relationships, and mend betrayals while building paths of trust and happiness. I've worked with community leaders to bring mental health services to individuals and families that would have otherwise not had access to them and I’ve facilitated groups and workshops about relationships and marriage at universities and community centers across the West Coast.